China sends 19th naval escort piracy task force to Somalia

China’s 19th naval escort task force has sailed for the Gulf of Aden, Chinese state media has reported.

The task force will conduct counter-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden and other regional waters for a period of about three months. It will relieve the 18th task force rotation, which has been operating in the area since late August.

The task force departed on 2 December from Qingdao, which is the capital of northwestern Shandong Province and home to the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) North Sea Fleet. The task force consists of the Type 054A Jiangkai II-class frigates Linyi and Weifang , the Type 903 Fuchi-class supply ship Weishan Hu , and 700 personnel including a special operations detachment.